Download 1 Activity Description Materials Teacher Procedure

8.10B: Weather Maps
Earth and Space
Activity Description
In this activity, the student will prepare to give a simulated presentation to a school on the
explanation of weather occurrences and their visual displays on a weather map.
Materials
1 Pair of scissors (per student)
1 Glue stick (per student)
1 Student Attachment: Weather Guide Script (per student)
1 Student Attachment: Pictures of weather map concepts (per student)
1 Teacher Attachment: Weather Guide Script (Key)
Teacher Procedure
Before the start of the lesson, make sure that the listed materials and necessary Student
Attachments are prepared.
Use the following questions to begin student discussion on the topic:
1.When meteorologist say a weather front is occurring, what does that mean?

Fronts occur in association with low pressure air masses where the air circulation
causes the interaction between air masses with different temperatures and pressures.
The front is the line of contact at ground level marking the boundary between the two air
masses.
2.What is a warm front?

A warm front is the leading edge of a warm, humid air mass which rises into the
atmosphere as it is pushed up by the surrounding, colder air. Warm fronts are
represented by lines of red half-circles on a weather map.
3.What is a cold front?

A cold front is the leading edge of a cool, dry air mass moving into an area, displacing
the warmer air, and contributing to storm formation. On a map, lines of blue triangles
represent cold fronts.
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8.10B: Weather Maps
Earth and Space
Procedure
1. Students will be preparing for a simulated presentation on information about being a
meteorologist. In their own words, they will need to describe weather occurrences.
2. Students can do either of the following steps in whichever order makes sense to them.
3. Students should write an explanation of each of the weather map concepts marked on the
Student Attachment: Weather Guide Script.

The student is expected to explain an area of high pressure, an area of low pressure, a
cold front, a warm front, weather conditions after a cold front crosses an area, and
weather conditions after a warm front crosses an area.
4. Students will then need to cut out and match the provided pictures from the Student
Attachment: Pictures of Weather Map Concepts with the correct weather concepts on the
Student Attachment: Weather Guide Script .

Monitor the student during both the written and picture matching steps. If the student
is a visual learner, have them match the pictures first, then write the explanations.
ELPS Recommendations:
Please go to the ELPS Teacher Toolbox to retrieve general resources to support all ELPS
instruction for learning strategies, listening, speaking, writing and reading in your classroom
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8.10B: Weather Maps
Earth and Space
Teacher Attachment: Weather Guide Script (Key)
Directions: You are presenting information about being a meteorologist to a school. You know
there are going to be a lot of questions about interpreting marks on a weather broadcast, and
you are preparing your notes to explain the sometimes tricky concepts. In your own words,
describe the following weather occurrences, and glue the corresponding pictures to the concept.
High Pressure:
An air mass with greater atmospheric pressure than the
surrounding air masses; air moves away from the high
pressure, traveling in a clockwise direction.
Low Pressure:
An air mass with less atmospheric pressure than the
surrounding air masses; air moves toward the low pressure,
traveling in a counterclockwise direction.
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8.10B: Weather Maps
Earth and Space
Warm Front:
Forms at the surface of Earth when a warm, moist air mass
overtakes a cool, dense, and dryer air mass.
Cold Front:
Forms at the surface of Earth when a cold, dry air mass
overtakes a warmer, humid air mass.
Weather Conditions After a Warm Front and Cold Front Crosses an Area
Precipitation occurs ahead of the
warm front at the frontal boundary
20º
50º
tends to be prolonged, but gentle
with warm air after.
Cold fronts are characterized by
50º
dramatic storms, thunder, lighting,
and sometimes tornadoes.
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20º
8.10B: Weather Maps
Earth and Space
Teacher Attachment: Graphic Organizer (Key)
Use the terms in the word bank to complete the graphic organizer below.
Word Bank
warm
low
high
clear skies
stormy weather
fronts
Weather Maps
cold
1. Weather Maps
used to show weather patterns
and characteristics such as:
air pressure masses
2.
3.
high
4.
fronts
low
5.
winds flow outward,
clockwise,
associated with
7. clear skies
winds flow
toward center,
counterclockwise,
associated
with
6.
8. stormy weather
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warm
cold
8.10B: Weather Maps
Earth and Space
Student Attachment: Pictures of Weather Map Concepts
20º
50º
50º
20º
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8.10B: Weather Maps
Earth and Space
Student Attachment: Weather Guide Script
Directions: You are presenting information about being a meteorologist to a school. You know
there are going to be a lot of questions about interpreting marks on a weather broadcast, and
you are preparing your notes to explain the sometimes tricky concepts. In your own words,
describe the following weather occurrences and glue the corresponding pictures to the concept .
High Pressure:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
____________________
Low Pressure:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
____________________
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8.10B: Weather Maps
Earth and Space
Warm Front:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
____________________
Cold Front:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Weather Conditions After a Warm
Front and Cold Front Crosses an Area
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
____________
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8.10B: Weather Maps
Earth and Space
Student Attachment: Graphic Organizer
Use the terms in the word bank to complete the graphic organizer below.
Word Bank
warm
low
high
clear skies
stormy weather
fronts
Weather Maps
cold
1.______________
used to show weather patterns
and characteristics such as:
air pressure masses
2.______________
3.______________
4.______________
5._____________
winds flow outward,
clockwise,
associated with
7._____________
winds flow
toward center,
counterclockwise,
associated
with
6.______________
8.______________
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